10. RECOMMENDED SUBSYSTEM: DOMAINS (TYPES OF SUPERPOWER)

Overview

At higher Heroic Ranks, raw power alone is not enough.

Without differentiation, all characters risk becoming:

“the same character, but with different numbers.”

The Domain System solves this by giving each Heroic character a distinct expression of power.

What Is a Domain?

A Domain is a thematic and mechanical framework that defines:

  • how your power manifests

  • what you are exceptionally good at

  • how your abilities behave

  • how you interact with the battlefield

Your Heroic Rank determines how powerful you are.
Your Domain determines what kind of power you are.

Core Rule

Each Heroic character selects one Domain.

That Domain:

  • modifies how their abilities function

  • enhances certain mechanics

  • unlocks specific options

  • shapes narrative identity

How Domains Work

A Domain provides three layers of benefits:

1. Passive Enhancements

Always active bonuses tied to your theme.

2. Active Modifiers

Ways to modify:

  • Heroic Actions

  • Impact Dice

  • Scale Bonus application

  • Movement or positioning

3. Rank Synergy

Each Domain interacts differently with:

  • Minihero traits

  • Hero features

  • Superhero abilities

  • Megahero effects

  • Ultrahero powers

Design Rule

Every ability you use should feel like it comes from your Domain.

This ensures:

  • strong identity

  • visual consistency

  • mechanical coherence

CORE DOMAINS

TITAN

Fantasy

Raw, overwhelming physical force.
You are strength made manifest.

Passive

  • Gain advantage on Strength checks involving:

    • lifting

    • breaking

    • grappling

Active

  • Your Heroic Impact Dice may:

    • push targets

    • knock prone

    • damage structures

Rank Synergy

  • Hero → Breakthrough Strike becomes devastating to terrain

  • Superhero → Area Impact becomes shockwave-based

  • Megahero → Break the Scene becomes massive destruction

  • Ultrahero → terrain reshapes around your movement

Playstyle

  • frontline dominance

  • control through force

  • environmental destruction

SPEEDSTER

Fantasy

Impossible speed. Time struggles to keep up with you.

Passive

  • Bonus to initiative equal to half your Scale Bonus

  • Movement speed increases significantly (DM scaling)

Active

  • You may split movement between attacks freely

  • Heroic Momentum actions feel instantaneous

Rank Synergy

  • Hero → extra action becomes rapid burst

  • Superhero → Mythic Action enables multi-position turns

  • Megahero → can act multiple times across battlefield

  • Ultrahero → time distortion effects

Playstyle

  • hit-and-run

  • multi-target pressure

  • extreme mobility

FLYER

Fantasy

Master of vertical space and aerial dominance.

Passive

  • Gain flight (if not already granted)

  • Ignore ground-based obstacles

Active

  • Gain bonus damage when descending (impact attacks)

  • Can reposition freely in 3D space

Rank Synergy

  • Superhero → aerial Area Impact

  • Megahero → battlefield control from above

  • Ultrahero → airspace becomes controlled domain

Playstyle

  • positioning control

  • dive attacks

  • unreachable angles

PSYCHIC

Fantasy

Mind over reality. Thought becomes force.

Passive

  • Advantage on:

    • mental saving throws

    • perception checks

Active

  • Replace physical interactions with:

    • telekinesis

    • mental force

    • invisible manipulation

Rank Synergy

  • Hero → control becomes reliable

  • Superhero → area mental effects

  • Megahero → battlefield-wide telekinesis

  • Ultrahero → reality bending through thought

Playstyle

  • control

  • manipulation

  • battlefield denial

ELEMENTAL

Fantasy

Embodiment of a natural force.

Passive

  • Resistance to chosen element

Active

  • Heroic Impact Dice become elemental

  • Effects spread through terrain

Rank Synergy

  • Superhero → area expansion

  • Megahero → terrain transformation

  • Ultrahero → environment becomes elemental domain

Playstyle

  • area damage

  • environmental control

  • thematic destruction

DIVINE

Fantasy

Judgment, light, authority, protection.

Passive

  • Allies gain minor bonuses near you

  • Advantage on fear resistance

Active

  • Empower allies

  • weaken enemies through presence

Rank Synergy

  • Hero → leadership effects

  • Superhero → aura dominance

  • Megahero → battlefield blessing

  • Ultrahero → divine domain

Playstyle

  • support + offense

  • aura-based control

  • leadership

SHADOW

Fantasy

Darkness, fear, corruption, unseen presence.

Passive

  • Advantage on stealth

  • harder to target in dim light

Active

  • inflict fear

  • apply debuffs

  • manipulate visibility

Rank Synergy

  • Superhero → fear aura

  • Megahero → battlefield darkness

  • Ultrahero → shadow domain

Playstyle

  • control

  • debilitation

  • stealth dominance

COSMIC

Fantasy

Force beyond comprehension: gravity, space, energy.

Passive

  • Resistance to force or energy

Active

  • manipulate:

    • gravity

    • distance

    • raw energy

Rank Synergy

  • Superhero → force-based area control

  • Megahero → gravity distortion

  • Ultrahero → space-time manipulation

Playstyle

  • control + damage

  • battlefield warping

  • high-concept power

Custom Domains (IMPORTANT)

You are not limited to these.

Players and DMs can create Domains such as:

  • Blood

  • Time

  • Sound

  • Technology

  • Dreams

  • Chaos

  • Order

  • Nature

  • War

Design Rule for Custom Domains

A Domain should define:

  • what it does better than others

  • how it modifies abilities

  • how it looks in fiction

DM Guidance

Do:

  • encourage strong themes

  • reward consistency

  • adapt encounters to Domains

Do NOT:

  • allow “everything powers”

  • ignore thematic limits

  • let Domains overlap completely

Design Purpose

Domains ensure:

  • characters feel unique

  • mechanics reflect identity

  • scaling is flavorful, not generic

Quick Reference

Each Domain provides:

  • passive bonus

  • active modification

  • rank-based scaling

Final Principle

Rank gives you power.
Domain gives that power meaning.